My whole life, I’ve always loved a good mystery! There’s something magical about a mysterious tale that captivates the reader and pulls them into the story. In upper elementary, I’ve found that mysteries are incredibly engaging and an excellent way to teach a variety of skills. This is why I love teaching reading and writing mysteries. Over the years, I’ve developed a few strategies that have worked wonders in my classroom. As a result, they have helped my students both enjoy and excel at reading and writing mysteries. Today, I’m excited to share some of these ideas with you. I hope they help you bring the thrill of mysteries into your classroom too.

Modeling the Characteristics of Great Mysteries

For older students, chapter books like “The Westing Game” or “The 39 Clues” series can be great examples. These books allow for deeper analysis of plot structure, character development, and the use of red herrings to mislead the reader. Discussing these elements as a class, helps students understand the components that make a mystery compelling. It gives them great ideas for how they can incorporate these into their own writing.

Teaching Kids to Write Mysteries

Once students are familiar with the structure and elements of a mystery, it’s time to guide them through the process of writing their own. First, start with brainstorming sessions. Have students come up with a basic plot idea, a crime or problem, and a list of characters. Next, encourage them to think about what clues will be found and how these clues will lead to the solution. This is also a great time to introduce the concept of red herrings—clues that mislead the reader—to add complexity to their stories.

After this, help students outline their mysteries using a simple plot diagram. This should include the introduction, where the crime or problem is presented; the rising action, where clues are found and the mystery deepens; the climax, where the mystery is at its peak; and the resolution, where the mystery is solved. Breaking the story down into these parts helps students organize their thoughts and ensures they include all the necessary elements of a mystery.

As students begin writing, remind them to focus on building suspense and keeping the reader guessing. Encourage them to use descriptive language and dialogue to bring their characters and settings to life. Remind them that the solution to the mystery should be satisfying and make sense based on the clues provided throughout the story.

Engaging Ways to Incorporate Mystery Writing into the Classroom

Mystery Writing Pennants

One of my favorite ways to engage students in mystery writing is through Mystery Writing Pennants. In this activity, students are given a mystery prompt to kick-start their writing. They draft their mystery stories and, once the final draft is complete, they place their story on a fun pennant. There’s a collection of mystery pennant toppers to choose from, allowing each student to personalize their work. One of the reasons I love these so much is because they make for an awesome bulletin board or hallway display, showcasing your students’ creativity and hard work. You would not believe how many compliments I have received when my students writing pennants have been proudly displayed in the hallway for all to see!

Choose an Adventure Mysteries

One of the most highly engaging mystery writing activities I have found are Mystery Choose Your Adventures. I came up with this idea a few years ago whip thinking about the Choose Your Own Adventure books that we all read as kids! With Mystery Choose Your Adventure Writing, students are given the beginning of a mystery to read and must choose one of three paths for writing the conclusion! This approach allows students to explore different endings and keeps them totally engaged in the writing process! My students go wild over these. They are so much fun because kids can start with the same mystery and write totally different endings! The interactive nature of choosing their path makes the writing process more dynamic and exciting. It challenges them to think critically about how different clues can lead to different outcomes.

Mystery Writing Circles

As I am teaching reading and writing mysteries in upper elementary, one of my favorite things to incorporate are Mystery Writing Circles. This strategy allows students to work together to write a mystery story. These are so much fun and my kids love them. To do this, place your kids into small groups. Each student in the group contributes a part of the story, such as the introduction, a key clue, or the resolution. This collaborative effort not only builds writing skills but also encourages teamwork and communication. It is crazy the mysteries the kids come up with when they work together in mystery writing circles.

Mystery Writing Contests

Finally, my upper elementary kids LOVE contests and incentives! One way I have incorporated them into my classroom is through Mystery Writing Contests. You can give this a try by challenging your students to write the best mystery story they can, with the promise of a small reward or recognition for the most intriguing plot, the best use of red herrings, or the most creative solution. A little competition can be a great motivator, and it’s a fun way to celebrate their hard work.

Teach Kids to be Awesome Mystery Authors

Teaching kids to write mysteries in upper elementary is an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only does it engage their imaginations and keep them excited about writing, but it also helps them develop critical thinking skills, attention to detail, and a deeper understanding of narrative structure. The sense of accomplishment they feel when they craft a well-thought-out mystery is something they’ll carry with them long after they’ve left your classroom. So don’t overlook the joy of teaching mysteries—embrace it, and watch your students thrive as they become detectives of the literary world!

Save These Ideas for Later

I am so sure that your kiddos will love mystery writing. If you’re anything like me, you probably like to sneak in some mystery writing lessons during October, the spookiest month of the year! If you need other fun ideas to keep your kids engaged in in October, make sure to check out my HALLOWEEN EEARLY FINISHERS post!

I hope you love teaching reading and writing mysteries in upper elementary as much as I do. Honestly, the mystery genre is one that captivates us all! Make sure you click on the PIN IMAGE below to save these ideas to your favorite Pinterest boards for teaching ideas! This way, when the time is right for you, you will be able to easily find them. We wish you the vary best and hope that you have a wonderful school year! Remember, YOU’RE A GREAT TEACHER! Keep up the good work!